After flirting with a move to MLS, U.S. national team prospect Mikkel Diskerud has decided to stay in Norway and sign a new two-year deal with Rosenborg BK.

Diskerud, 22, joined RBK last summer and appeared in 18 games for his new club, which finished third in the Eliteserien. He was out of contract this winter (Norway’s soccer season runs concurrent with the calendar year) and entered into negotiations with the Portland Timbers. Portland’s new coach, Caleb Porter, worked with Diskerud on the U.S. Under-23 team that failed to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

But the MLS team ultimately concluded that Diskerud wasn’t worth a Designated Player deal. Portland then acquired Argentine midfielder Diego Valeri, 26, as a DP.

Rosenborg apparently valued Diskerud more highly.

“We wanted a longer contract with Mix, but it was two years or nothing,” RBK sporting director Erik Hoftun told reporters Tuesday. “(He) will be a good player for us this season.”

Born in Oslo to a Norwegian father and American mother, Diskerud began his pro career at Stabæk in 2008 and emerged as a regular starter two years later. He moved on to Belgian club KAA Gent in January 2012 and then joined Rosenborg last August.

Diskerud chose to represent the U.S. internationally, played for the Under-20s and then made his senior national team debut in November 2011. He’s now earned three caps and he scored his first goal in November’s 2-2 draw in Russia. He was invited to participate in U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s January camp but didn’t play in either the friendly vs. Canada or the subsequent World Cup qualifier in Honduras.

A 22-time Norwegian champion, RBK will kick off its 2013 season on March 17. The club also has qualified to participate in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League.